These remarkable pictures show the colorful overlapping scales of a Robin moth’s wings protecting the thin membrane underneath. Like tiles on a roof, the scales strengthen and stabilize the wings. These scales are so small to the naked eye that if you handle a butterfly or moth and touch its wings gently you will see is a powdery residue left behind on your fingers, which will not affect the butterfly from flying. Scales vary considerably in shape and colour, the large transparent windows created in some tropical genera are areas absent of scales.